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September 15, 2010 Draft Meeting Summary 1 <br />DRAFT, MEETING SUMMARY <br />AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION BOARD <br />September 15, 2010 <br /> <br />MEMBERS PRESENT: Roland Walters, Elizabeth Walters, James and Patricia Wynn, Spence Dickinson, Joe <br />Thompson, Patrick McGarry and Allan Green. <br /> <br />MEMBERS ABSENT/EXCUSED: Louise Tate, Howard McAdams and Tony Kleese. <br /> <br />GUESTS: Phyllis Ruth, Farm Services Agency Director for Orange and Durham counties <br />STAFF: Dave Stancil, Director Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and <br />Recreation, Gail Hughes Soil and Water Division and Tina Moon Natural and Cultural <br />Division <br /> <br />ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER <br />Chair Roland Walters called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. <br /> <br />ITEM #2: CHAIR COMMENTS <br />After introductions, Chair Walters extended congratulations to Thompson. The Board of County <br />Commissioners recently approved Thompson’s Prawn Farm as the newest participating farm in the Voluntary <br />Agricultural District Program. <br />Walters also shared the news of Tony Kleese’s resignation from the APB. <br /> <br />ITEM #3: CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONS TO AGENDA (none) <br /> <br />ITEM #4: APPROVAL OF MINUTES June 16, 2010 <br />E. Walters motioned approval of the minutes from June 16, 2010; Thompson seconded the motion. The APB <br />voted unanimous approval of the June 16, 2010 minutes. <br /> <br />ITEM #5: ITEMS FOR DECISION <br />a. None <br /> <br />ITEM #6: SPECIAL PRESENTATION <br />a. Existing Programs for Farmers – Farm Services Agency <br />Phyllis Ruth gave a presentation on some of the programs that her agency offers to local farmers. Ruth <br />provided a number of handouts before the meeting for inclusion in the agenda packets and offered to <br />provide additional information to those who were interested. <br /> <br />The key programs included: the Disaster Program, which included a number of programs designed to help <br />farmers who have suffered a crop loss due to weather such as the Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program <br />or NAP. <br /> <br />The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)—which pays farmers to take land out of production, particularly <br />environmentally sensitive land, and put it into long-term resource-conserving covers to control soil erosion, <br />improve water and air quality and develop wildlife habitat. <br /> <br />Ruth share information about a number of different programs designed for specific commodities and invited <br />APB to call or visit her office to apply for programs or for additional information. <br /> <br />Gail Hughes explained how Soil and Water works in partnership with many of FSA’s programs and often <br />offers technical support in the field. <br /> <br /> <br />ITEM #7: ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION <br /> a. Advisory Board Quick Reports, Annual Reports